Eleven years of Christmas movie hits and misses at the box office

Caption'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' (2000) -- Hit

Ron Batzdorff / Universal Pictures

By Nate Jackson, Times staff writer For some, the diminishing role of Christmas films over the past decade has been tough to watch. Or, in most cases, not watch. At the end of 2010, it appeared Hollywood was no longer eager to spin classic Noel narratives in new directions. However, this year,...

By Nate Jackson, Times staff writer For some, the diminishing role of Christmas films over the past decade has been tough to watch. Or, in most cases, not watch. At the end of 2010, it appeared Hollywood was no longer eager to spin classic Noel narratives in new directions. However, this year,... (Ron Batzdorff / Universal Pictures)

2001 was about as close to a Christmas movie wasteland as you can get. Oh yes, there was a cartoon version of a "Christmas Carol," starring the voices of Nicolas Cage alongside British actress Kate Winslet and fellow Brit Simon Callow, that made its debut in the United Kingdom in 2001. But it...

2001 was about as close to a Christmas movie wasteland as you can get. Oh yes, there was a cartoon version of a "Christmas Carol," starring the voices of Nicolas Cage alongside British actress Kate Winslet and fellow Brit Simon Callow, that made its debut in the United Kingdom in 2001. But it... (MGM Home Entertainment)

The third installment of the "Friday" franchise stars rapper Ice Cube, right, alongside Mike Epps as two slacker cousins -- both working as shopping center security guards -- who try to track down a burglar dressed as Santa Claus, who steals rent money and presents on Christmas Eve. Despite...

The third installment of the "Friday" franchise stars rapper Ice Cube, right, alongside Mike Epps as two slacker cousins -- both working as shopping center security guards -- who try to track down a burglar dressed as Santa Claus, who steals rent money and presents on Christmas Eve. Despite... (Tracy Bennett / New Line Cinema)

Championed as the signature foulmouthed holiday film of the 00s, Billy Bob Thornton plays a dastardly mall Santa with a penchant for hedonism and burglarizing department stores on Christmas Eve. Count it as one of the few Christmas movies people can actually remember seeing in the new...

Championed as the signature foulmouthed holiday film of the 00s, Billy Bob Thornton plays a dastardly mall Santa with a penchant for hedonism and burglarizing department stores on Christmas Eve. Count it as one of the few Christmas movies people can actually remember seeing in the new... (Tracy Bennett / Miramax Films)

Initially failing to capitalize on the magic of the 1985 childrens book by Chris Van Allsburg, "Polar Express" chugged into the box office in 2004, grossing only $23 million in its opening weekend -- far below expectations for such a big-budget adaptation. Starring the voices of Tom Hanks and...

Initially failing to capitalize on the magic of the 1985 childrens book by Chris Van Allsburg, "Polar Express" chugged into the box office in 2004, grossing only $23 million in its opening weekend -- far below expectations for such a big-budget adaptation. Starring the voices of Tom Hanks and... (Warner Bros. Pictures)